Southern Stays: Omni Grove Park Inn

Southern Stays is a series in which we will review a property, whether it be a hostel, hotel or other form of accommodation. To suggest a property please leave a comment or email us.

Credit: Sammi Eubanks

There may be no more iconic a hotel in Asheville, North Carolina than the Grove Park Inn. Its trademark stone facade has entertained generations of guests. Opened in 1913, the hotel has been host to the likes of Williams Jennings Bryan, Dwight Eisenhower, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Today, the hotel is a property of the Omni hotel group and is a member of the Southern Living Hotel Collection, which represents the best accommodation in the South. It’s also one of the Historic Hotels of America.

Credit: Sammi Eubanks

I’ve stayed in Omni hotels before in Atlanta and expected the same level of perfection from this longtime AAA Four Diamond award-winning hotel. Guests enter on the 8th-floor lobby and the terraced style hotel leads guests through a shopping arcade to the dining areas and access to rooms. It’s a popular hangout, even for locals, as there’s live music on weekends.

Credit: Sammi Eubanks

The Omni Grove Park Inn has a number of different room types for every budget. The classic rooms are located in the historic part of the inn, right above reception and accessible using an elevator built into the stone fireplace. The resort view rooms, which I stayed in, are located in the wings on both sides of the historic inn and offer views of the sprawling grounds. And the mountain view rooms, of course, have views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. Rooms can also come in king, queen, double and accessible styles.

Credit: Sammi Eubanks

Within the rooms, you’ll find plush bathrobes, shampoos, and other bath products and a spacious shower. Beds include reading lights and plenty of space to plug in your electronics. WiFi is available for free to Select Guest members, which is free to sign up. Rooms also include televisions, mini fridges and coffee makers. Within the hotel, you’ll find a number of shops and restaurants, including Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen and Vue 1913. There’s also a spa and golf course nearby for guests to enjoy.

Credit: Sammi Eubanks

The Spa at the Grove Park Inn boasts 43,000 square feet of amenities and treatment rooms. From the Sammons Wing of the hotel, the elevator brings you to the subterranean oasis. After checking in men are ushered into one relaxation space and women shift into another. Complimentary lockers hold your electronics as they are not allowed within the spa. The amazing variety of amenities has forced the spa to reduce day passes to overnight guests and reservations on the weekends. The outdoor pool allows for a bit of sun and Spa Cafe service. What sets the Grove Park Spa apart from others is its attraction to a variety of visitors. This is achieved through unique and varied amenities.

Credit: Sammi Eubanks

The holiday season is the most popular time to visit the Grove Park Inn, as the National Gingerbread House Competition, which I mentioned earlier, is free and open to the public. The entries are on display from November to January. It’s a common sight to check out the gingerbread creations, which you will be surprised to learn are edible, and grab a hot toddy at the lobby bar. Grab a seat by the fire and listen to jazz.

If You Go

The Grove Park Inn is located at 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina 28804. To book a reservation, see their website or call (800) 438-5800. Rates start at $250 per night. Parking is an additional fee.

Sammi Eubanks contributed to the updating of this post and supplied images after a press trip with Hawkins International Public Relations.

About Caroline Eubanks

Caroline Eubanks is a travel blogger and freelance writer from Atlanta, Georgia who has also lived in Charleston, South Carolina. Her stories from the South have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Thrillist, Roads and Kingdoms, and BBC Travel. She shares a love for all things South: glass bottle Coca Colas, chicken and waffles, a good local craft beer and gatherings of friends and family. You can read more of her writing on her blog, Caroline in the City.

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